Universal, the studio planning a big screen adaptation of knee-trembling phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey, is considering four writers, according to the Hollywood Reporter. They include a tried and tested screenwriter for Disney, a graduate of successful US crime series The Killing and a writer on the cancelled sci fi show Terra Nova. Disappointingly for fans of cult novelist Bret Easton Ellis, who has been furiously touting himself for the job via Twitter, executives at Universal appear to have ignored his charms.

The four writers on the shortlist for Fifty Shades of Grey, based on EL James' bestselling "spankbuster", are Dan Fogelman, Veena Sud, Karen Croner and Kelly Marcel. Croner wrote Cars 2, last year's animated Pixar sequel, while Sud successfully adapted The Killing from its origins as The Crime on Danish TV. Croner has a couple of upcoming Universal film projects in the pipeline, while Marvel has written the upcoming biographical drama Saving Mr Banks, which stars Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in the story of the creation of Mary Poppins.

Fifty Shades of Grey is being overseen by the producers of the Oscar-winning drama The Social Network, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, suggesting Universal is taking the film version very seriously indeed. Easton Ellis has appeared entirely determined about his intentions but it's possible the studio, which bought the rights to EL James's bestselling erotic tale for $5m (£3.22m) in March, plumped for a rather safer option. On Twitter, the novelist and occasional screenwriter has compared Christian Grey, the sadistic billionaire at the centre of Fifty Shades, to his most famous creation: American Psycho's Patrick Bateman.

After discovering his omission, Easton Ellis posted: "It's a very major disappointment to announce that I've somehow been taken off the list of possible screenwriters for Fifty Shades of Grey... Thanks to the fans for the months of intense support. Your awesome enthusiasm and great suggestions were instructive and meaningful to me... @E_L_James I hope you find someone as passionate as I was about 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' I will miss it. Moving on. Laters, baby…"

Easton Ellis has been swapping casting suggestions for Grey and his paramour for weeks with his Twitter followers, touting (amongst others) Channing Tatum, Tom Hardy, Aaron Johnson, Alex Pettyfer, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ian Sommerhalder, Christian Bale and American Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte for the part of the former. Having apparently given up on his chances of landing the screenwriting job, he nevertheless subsequently found himself caught up in a row over the possible casting of openly gay TV star Matt Bomer, leading to fiercely denied accusations of homophobia.

"I am NOT discriminating Matt Bomer because of his sexuality," posted Easton Ellis. "Fifty Shades of Grey demands an actor that is genuinely into women. Get it?!?

"I think Matt Bomer is incredibly handsome and a good actor but I think he comes off totally gay in White Collar," he later added. "And that is why no to CG…"

The comments by Easton Ellis, who has had relationships with both men and women, provoked outrage on the social media site, causing the author to declare "Hollywood is the most homophobic place in the entire world."

Easton Ellis, meanwhile, will soon get to see his screenwriting on the big screen in the forthcoming thriller The Canyons, starring Lindsay Lohan and one-time porn star James Deen. Described as a contemporary neo-noir about the dangers of sexual obsession and ambition among a group of young people in their 20s, it is being directed by Paul Schrader of American Gigolo and Affliction.